A LACQUERED WROUGHT IRON SAMURAI SUIT OF ARMOUR OF YUKINOSHITA DO STYLE ENTIRELY LACED IN KEBIKI ON KITSUKE KOZANE, KAGA SCHOOL, THE KABUTO SIGNED BY NAKAYA HIDESHIGE OF MUSASHI PROVINCE
Japan, Edo...

A LACQUERED WROUGHT IRON SAMURAI SUIT OF ARMOUR OF YUKINOSHITA DO STYLE ENTIRELY LACED IN KEBIKI ON KITSUKE KOZANE, KAGA SCHOOL, THE KABUTO SIGNED BY NAKAYA HIDESHIGE OF MUSASHI PROVINCE
Japan, Edo period, Ho Ei era

Description of the helmet (kabuto):

Made up of eight wrought natural iron plates. The tehen kanamono is of agedama type (five different levels). On the back of the helmet, there is a kosho no kwan (agemaki / knot holder). On both sides of the hachi, two shiten no byo above hibiki no ana (two pegs). A shikoro (neck protection) is affixed to the koshimaki (the wrought iron plate located to the base of the hachi). It is finished in kiritsuke kosane (with a lacquer imitating the bamboo). Its plates, five in total, are laced in kebiki kon ito odoshi (horizontal lace of night blue color). The two first plates bear fukigaeshi adorne with kanamon of clan Maeda. On the front part of the hachi, there is a mabezashi (visor) of nobu type (medieval type) on which is affixed an oharaidate (maedate holder) of kadome type in the yoshi ryu style. It bears a polychrome maedate (frontal ornament) representing Fudo Myoo. On the inner part of the hachi, there are ring clips (shinobi ne o) of mitsu tsuke type (going by three) for the shinobi no o (the cord attached to the helmet).

Description of the mask (mempo):

The mask (mempo) is made up of wrought natural iron and is of ryubu type (martial type). The nose is removable and is maintained by a peg. There are two orikugi (pegs) to the chin. Below the chin, there is an asa nagashi no ana (sweat running hole). The inner part in aka uruski (all red lacquered). This mempo is of Yoshi Ryu style (open mouth with no teeth and no mustache but with a fold above the superior rim).

Description of the breastplate (do):

Wrought iron breastplates with an also wrought iron namawe fukurin (the braided cord-like design of edge moulding) which adorns the upper part of the back of the do, the shoulders and the upper part of the front of the do, including the wagatami. The plate holding the muneita (the watagami clips) is all covered with nameshi gawa (tanned leather) which is enhanced with the clan kanamons in mekkin. With tsubo sode. The back of the do bears an agekami no kwan as well as a gattari in which pass an ukerutsu (a receptacle for the shashimono, i.e. the flag bearing the armorial crest). To the back of the do, also, a hachi huke affixed to the ukerutzu. A four-section belt bears seven yurugi-ito (the braid with the kusazuri).

Description of the sangu set:

With sabinuri lacquered kusazuri, kebiki kon ito odoshi, the ultimate plate of each in shibuichi and centered by a kanamon mekkin of the clan. The front part of the do is applied with ornamental cutouts in mekkin nin. There is a sahai tsuke no kwan. The kote are made of natural iron and are typical of the productions of the kaga School with projections of silver droplets on the double myotan gane (ornamental plaques in the shape of double-gourds) as well as on the tekko (hand's protections). These kote are of oda gote style with ikada and kiku. They are all linked together by a chain mail (hitoye gusari) of hana gusari type. With maru tekko enhanced with the kanamon mekkin of the clan. The haidate (thigh-high boots) of wa wara haidate type in nerigawa (hard boiled leather). With suneate (legs' protections) of shino suneate type (lacquered wrought irons plates linked together by a mail chain). The abumi-zure (boiled leather protection parts) of the suneate are in urushi gawa (lacquered soft leather). The maedate is together with its original inscribed box. The armor is accompanied with a sahai as well as a karabistu lacquered with original fittings.

Provenance: A curated selection of Samurai Art & Beyond from the Collection of a French Scholar assembled over years of thorough studies.

+Important notice to the buyer: Please note that this lot is not in our premises and is currently located in France and is to be sold on designation. The successful bidder will then haver to arrange the shipping from the French location.

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